by Gray Graham

It seems like a lot of American Christians are having a difficult time this Independence Day and probably have been having a difficult decade. America has undergone a strong cultural shift many call a cultural war over the years and a lot of Christians feel that America has lost its moral compass. It has become difficult for many to just go about their lives. They feel threaten by those ungodly people trying to destroy their way of life.

If I am not mistaken Jesus lived during the time of Julius Caesar and the great Roman Empire. Our form of government is based on the Greek form of government. The Roman form of government was based on the Greek form of government. The Roman government was not a big fan of Jesus teachings. America is not a big fan of Jesus teachings today. I am having a hard time understanding what the problem is.

Unless I have a broken Bible, there are not any chapters about the founding fathers of America. I can't think of any verses that speak to how God sent an angel with the Constitution after the Articles of Confederation failed. So it completely escapes me exactly why anyone would think that America is somehow this great Christian nation serving the will of God.

America has a long, bloody history of murder and destruction. We as a country have oppressed people of many different races and cultures around the world. While we may be the best country the world has ever known, we are far from one that has ever done things that are pleasing to God.

To just speak the truth, if we actually were a country that strictly followed the teachings of Jesus we would not exist as a country today. A country that is in complete service of God does not fight wars, does not steal from others,and does not profit from the suffering of others.

There would be no death penalty. Food would be free. Health care would be free. Homes would be free. Education would be free. The death penalty would not exist. Megachurches would not exist. We would strive to live humble lives and not spend all of our time accumulating wealth and fame.

I understand that for many of my Christian brothers and sisters gay marriage is a hard pill to swallow. Homosexuality is a hard pill to swallow. I really don't understand why it is harder to swallow than adultery and fornication but I am sure I have a very good guess.

Abortion definitely is hard to accept. The very idea goes against everything that Jesus taught. It is not something that we personally should find acceptable in our lives. Neither is giving 8-year old girls birth control pills. That said it is a personal journey that those people are going to have to walk and we can only pray for them. Short of killing them there is nothing we could actually do to prevent any of these things from happening because even being behind locked bars can not prevent someone that is determined from doing something.

Your Bible clearly tells you what will become of the world. None of the things we see should come as any surprise. Instead of trying to ask a worldly government to pass laws to prevent people from doing things we do not like, maybe we should spend more time actually making sure that we are doing the things that we are suppose to do. Once we do that then we can lift others up one person at a time.

God does not need our help in judging the actions of others. He is the one and only judge of us all. In life there are going to be certain things that are out of our control. On a daily basis I see people commit acts that I disagree and the Bible tells us are wrong. If it is wanted or sometimes needed I will speak on the matter. Most of the time I respect the free will God has given each of us to live our lives as we see fit. In the end God will decide all.

So take comfort that we live in a country where we are free to worship God as we see fit. No one can force use to be Catholic, Mormon, Muslim, Lutheran, Wicca or Atheist. We are not discriminated against to the point we can not provide for our families because we serve God. We do not have to worship in hiding. Soldiers are not going to round us up to throw us to lions, tigers, and bears because we call ourselves Christians.

America is not and never was a Christian nation. I understand that this is not what many of you were taught growing up. It is not what your father and mother told you but it is the truth. One quick glance over American history should clearly point this fact out to you.

So instead of being angry and upset this Independence, why not spread the Word and then enjoy the peace and the freedom to serve God however you see fit because whether you believe it or not, most of us could not handle actually living life under the strict rules of God. This is a fact that will definitely be made clear one day.

Romans 13 King James Version (KJV)

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.